The Heat of the Moment

Disclaimer-i do not in anyway own any of the characters of Kyo Kara Maoh

'thought'






Chapter 2

It has been a week since wolfram disappeared and Yuuri was becoming discouraged. He stalked the dark halls of Blood Pledge Castle like a phantom at night. His mind was always preoccupied about his missing friend. Yuuri was lonely and he missed having the blonde solider chase after him calling him either a wimp or a cheater.

At night, he would lie awake in that huge bed staring up at the canopy ceiling thinking about Wolfram and wondering if his blonde hair friend was all right. If he was able to sleep, his dreams or nightmares would have him running toward Wolfram but he could never reach the demon prince. It was like his legs were made of lead. He would call out to him but yet, the fire wielder did not hear and continued to walk away. Yuuri would wake up in the middle of the night sweating profusely while tears fell from his eyes. He would clutch tightly to Wolfram's uniform and cry into the material until it was soaking wet.

He could barely smell Wolfram's scent on the uniform. It's as though his clothes were forgetting what he smelled like. He would've had the pink nightgown but the blonde took it with him. Life was so unfair. 'Why Wolfram? Why did you leave us, leave me?' Tears began to fall from his eyes. 'Why does my heart hurt because you are no longer here? Why is it that I yearn to see your beautiful face? Why why why why why? Wolfram, where are you?' Yuuri clutched the uniform tightly to his chest and cried himself to sleep.

Everyone in the castle likewise missed the hot-tempered prince. It was so quiet and boring without Wolfram. The person who missed him most of all was Greta. Once again she has lost one of her fathers. She would ask Yuuri everyday when will her 'daddy' return. It broke his heart to see his daughter in so much pain.

He busied himself in his office signing huge stacks of documents to keep his mind off of his friend even if it was just for a little while. His hand had stopped moving as he turned to look out the window. Out in the courtyard, he watched for a while as Wolfram's men, under a new commander practiced. He could tell the young fire wielders missed their captain. He may have drilled them harder than Gwendal and Conrad did their own units but in the end, they knew Lord Bielefeld had only wanted them to be the best and that he truly cared about each and every one of them under his command. 'I miss you Wolfram. Why won't you come home?' Yuuri turned back around, sighed in defeat and went back to signing papers.

It was now going into the second week of Wolfram's disappearance and Yuuri was in his office with Gunter signing papers as usual when Gwendal, Conrad, Lady Cecilie and Murata burst into his office.

"What's the meaning of this?" demanded Gunter as he stared appalled at the intrusion.

"We have come to his majesty to discuss Wolfram's punishment for desertion," growled Gwendal.


"Desertion? Punishment? Wolfram? What are you talking about?" asked the young king not believing what he was hearing.

"You heard me. Wolfram has deserted his post. He is a traitor and must be punished as such."

"Gwendal, you're being too hard on wolfram," said Conrad calmly. "I'm sure once we find him and ask what the problem is I’m sure . . . "

"What is there to ask?" He scowled as more wrinkles appeared across his forehead. "He ups and disappears into the night. The act is plain and clear. He deserted and should be treated as a deserter," growled Gwendal.

"But Lord von Voltaire, the penalty for desertion is life in prison," said Murata.

"Actually, since wolfram was the king's fiancé and his family is one of the ten aristocrats, his punishment will be far worse," cried Lady Celi.

"What do you mean?" asked Yuuri. "What punishment?"

"Your majesty, since wolfram comes from one of the aristocrats' families he is bound by duty and honor to serve his country. He took an oath where in he pledged his life to the safety of the king and to all of Shin Makoku. By leaving as he did, Lord von Bielefeld will be branded as a traitor," said Gunter.

"Does that mean he will be put to . . ." Yuuri swallowed a dry lump in this throat not wanting to be the one to sign Wolfram's death warrant.

"Death,' said Conrad finishing the question for Yuuri. "No, but he will wish that he was. He would have been put to death during wartime but since we are at peace what he will face will be utter humiliation."

"I don't understand," said Yuuri feeling uneasy about the way things were turning out. "What kind of humiliation are you talking about?" But before anyone could answer, a carrier pigeon flew in through the opened window and settled on its perch. Conrad rushed over to the bird and removed the message that was tied around its leg. Unfurling the message, he read. "It’s from Josak." He smiled. "He's found where Wolfram might be."


"Where?" demanded Gwendal.

"In Carolia."

"What in the heck is he doing over there?" said Yuuri.

"I'll gather my men and bring him home." Gwendal turned and was about to leave when Yuuri stopped him.

"Are you crazy?" yelled Yuuri. "You want to have your own little brother punished as a deserter." If it was at all possible, more wrinkles appeared on Gwendal's forehead. "He's your brother for goodness sake. No older brother in their right mind would punish their brother as harshly as you want to punish wolfram. Stay here, I will go and find out why he ran off like he did."

Cecilie stared at the young king and shook her head. Was he really that dense? She had read the note wolfram had left, thanks to Conrad and she knew why he had left. She was sure everyone in the palace knew why wolfram had ran away. It seems that Yuuri was the only person oblivious to how wolfram really felt about him. She stood up and placed a hand on Yuuri's shoulder stopping him. "My yachet is faster. We can use it." She smiled at him.

"Thank you Lady Celi," Yuuri said smiling and then they left. With the use of Cecilie's private yachet, Yuuri along with the ex queen, Conrad and Murata made their way to Carolia to find wolfram and bring him home.

Upon their arrival, Josak and Lady Flynn were waiting for them at the docks. Yuuri rushed off the ship and ran up to them.

"Greeting, your majesty and what brings you to Carolia?" asked the blue hair woman smiling.

"It's about Wolfram," said Yuuri.

"Please your majesty, not out here," said Josak quietly. "I’ve reserved a private room in one of the local taverns for us to talk in. Follow me."

So, Yuuri had to force himself to wait until they were out of the public eyes before he could ask about Wolfram. Josak led them to a very nice tavern where the owner, upon seeing Josak led his guests to a private room. The tall, thin man asked if they would need anything. Josak smiled to the man saying not right now and slipped a few coins into his hand. The owner stared at the gold coins in wide eyed shock and bowed respectfully as he closed the door behind him as he left them alone.

"Your majesty, what is this all about?" asked lady Flynn.

"You didn't tell her, Josak?" asked Conrad frowning.

"No, I thought it would be best to wait until your arrival and let you tell her what was going on," said Josak.

"Tell me what?" The blue hair woman stared at them frowning.

Yuuri took a deep breath and told her about wolfram's disappearance a week ago.

Conrad noticed that she did not seem surprised by this news. And he decided to ask her about it. "Lady Flynn, you don't seem surprised that my brother is missing. You wouldn't happen to know anything about it?"

"Well first of all, I had no idea that lord wolfram was here. If he was here, I would have known the second he set foot in Carolia. Your brother is quite hard to overlook, lord Weller. But if you like you can search but just because he came here doesn’t mean he remained. He may have come to the conclusion that someone probably would see him and come tell me and left before I could speak to him," said lady Flynn.

"That is true, lord von Bielefeld may act a brat at times but he is clever to realize this," said the great sage. "And being our ally, he knew you would have to tell us because you are friends with Shibuya."

"And to answer your question lord Weller, I wasn't surprise because I was wondering how much humiliation he was going to take before he became fed up with his majesty's behavior."

"My behavior! I’ve done nothing," said Yuuri.

"And that's the problem." Lady Flynn sighed and shook her head in disgust at the young king's ignorance. "I'm talking about your engagement."

"What about it?"

"Do you have any plans for marrying lord Wolfram?"

"Again about the engagement. First Wolfram and now you. Why does everyone keep asking about that? I told you we're both guys. Men don't get married," Yuuri sputtered vehemently. "And I don't see what that has to do with wolfram disappearing."

"For give me your majesty for my rudeness, but are you a complete idiot. His disappearance has everything to do with your engagement. Every chance you get you yell at him saying that your engagement was an accident . . ."

"Well it was." Yuuri murmured pettily.

"That maybe so but you don't have to humiliate him in front of others. During your return celebration, you didn't once go over to talk to him. He stood in the corner like a shadow staring at your happy smiling face as you danced with every girl you saw." She quickly raised her hand silencing him when he was about to say something. She was going to make him see that it was his insensitive behavior that caused wolfram to leave. "If you felt uncomfortable dancing with another boy, you could have at least gone over to him and stayed to talk with him a while. You claim he was your friend but yet, you didn't show him an ounce of friendship. You didn't care a thing about his feelings. All you cared about was the fact that you were surrounded by girls. You never once thought that flirting with all those women was a slap in his face and another nail driven in the coffin of his pride and honor. I'm sure you don't know this. I'm not even sure if Wolfram knows this himself but it happened that same night. You want to know what all those smiling, laughing, happy people thought about wolfram. They called him the 'impudent beauty' that can't even stir the desires of his king. That his position at the castle is only because of his brother and that he did not earn his commission like other soldiers. They called him useless, selfish, spoiled, a brat that is unworthy of being the demon king's husband. Others just compared him to a whore saying like mother like son. They snickered, and looked at him with disdain.

All those beautiful girls you found yourself surrounded by and drooling all over dared to sneer at him as though he was something they had on the bottom of their shoes. I’m sure they all knew of wolfram's temper but I guess when he didn't go into attack mode. They knew that they had a chance to take you from him. They saw him as nothing but a pretty empty shell that could not hold the interest of his king. They laughed, gossiped and spread ugly rumors among the guests."

"What rumors?" asked the great sage. "I didn't hear any rumors."

"Of course you would not hear them. You are his majesty's best friend. They made sure that the rumors did not reach the ears of those living within the walls of the castle, meaning the staff or any of you who would go back and inform his majesty of their treachery."

"What was the rumor?" asked Yuuri.

"That lord von Bielefeld had no manhood between his legs in which to please you," said lady Flynn.

Everyone was shocked as Celi paled and Yuuri turned red with embarrassment. Hearing that those nice girls he danced with would spread such ugly rumors about his friend was a stab to the heart.

"I don't know if wolfram heard them but I did and I was totally disgusted by what I was hearing from what is suppose to be people of well breeding."

"I-I didn't know," Yuuri said looking down in shame. "If I had known . . . "

"What would you have done? You yourself had turned away from your fiancé. Although you didn't say it, your action spoke volume. You were telling everyone there that wolfram was in fact everything they were saying and that he meant nothing to you," said lady Flynn

"That’s not true?" Yuuri stared up at her defending himself. "I do care for wolfram very much but only as a friend."

"I see. So, why hadn't you broken off the engagement. I’m sure if you had asked your advisors, they would have told you how to end the engagement."

"I couldn't . . ."

"You must understand lady Flynn our laws are quite specific," said Conrad coming to the defensive of his young king. "Although it was an accident when Yuuri slapped my brother. His majesty refused to take it back, therefore; the engagement was legitimate and binding."

“So, what you are saying is that your brother is such a nuisance that you would dump him on the first person that proposed marriage to him."

"That's not what I'm saying."

"Sounds like it to me. When Yuuri first proposed to Wolfram, you should have immediately told him what his slap had meant."

"We did tell him," said Conrad.

"Hmph, Wolfram told me about the engagement after we had escaped from Big Cimaron. He was depressed and heartbroken because once again, his supposed fiancé was ignoring him again. He told me how not one of you told his 'fiancé' what that slap meant until after Lady Cecilie had asked him if his decision was final. As far as I am concern, you all are to blame for this terrible situatiion. You knew Yuuri didn't know about that law and yet you did not try to end the engagement. And you Conrad, being one of his elder brothers, I would have thought you would have done something more than telling his majesty he have to 'take it back.' I mean a total stranger drops out of the blue and his first night there proposed to your brother. I don't know about you but to me it tells me that you aren't too worried about whether your brother will be happy with this person." Lady Flynn stared at the solemn faces around the table. "When his majesty first let his views about two men getting married known, you should have taken steps to end the engagement as soon as possible.” She glared at Conrad. “Didn’t it occur to any of you that the situation he was in would ultimately lead to heartbreak for Wolfram? And yet you let him stay in a relationship where you knew nothing was going to come of it.”

Murata feeling that he had to say something since the others seem to have lost their voice. "Although I wasn't around when Shibuya proposed, you’re right lady Flynn there was a way. Wolfram could have broken the engagement but didn't. So, some of the blame is his to carry."

"Fair enough but didn't anyone of you realize that he was really a self conscious, frighten, insecure person underneath that hard, steel bitter exterior he showed you. Didn't anyone realize that his bratty jealous behavior was because he wanted someone to love him. That his behavior was because he was scared. Don't you think as his family Wolfram deserves to be loved by someone who will love him for him and not because he's a boy." Lady Flynn glared at Yuuri. "Didn't anyone sit him down and tell him it would be better for him if he breaks the engagement. That there is no shame in backing out, and that his honor won't be hurt if he simply annulled the engagement." She stared into the sullen faces of Wolfram's family as no one said anything. 'I don't believe this. Not one of them tried to get him to end the engagement. But then, who would not want their sibling to marry a kind, sweet oblivious king like Yuuri.' Lady Flynn just shook her head and sighed. "Your majesty, if you care even a little about lord von Bielefeld than you will let him go."

"What are you saying? Wolfram is my friend and he might be in danger. I can't just forget about him," snapped Yuuri.

"But your majesty, you have already forgotten about him. You've turned your back on him. You run from him and ignore him when you see a girl. I've never once seen you embrace him even as a friend. He is your, or was, your fiancé. You do not treat a fiancé on the same level as a friend. A fiancé is someone special that you place high upon a peddle-stool above all others. You treated him as an annoyance. He did not want to be your pal, buddy, comrade or friend. You have enough friends, your majesty. Wolfram wanted you to treat him as the person you would love throughout all time.” She sighed again and stood. She turned to face the door but stopped as she placed her hand on the knob. "He loves you, your majesty. It's as simple as that. He loves you with every fiber of his being. Not as a king, but as his one true love. I saw it the night of the party. I could see his heart in his eyes and it was breaking as you danced with those women. I think, in a way, he knew he had finally lost you. So, if you care about him. Let him have time to himself to heal his broken heart and maybe one day, he will return and you can be the friends you always claimed the two of you to be." She opened the door and walked out.

They sat in silence a few minutes before Conrad spoke. "Well your majesty, what do you want to do?"

"More to the point, what do we tell lord von Voltaire," said Murata. "He's going to have more wrinkles if we return with no Wolfram."

"I think," said Cecilie with her head lowered. All eyes turned to her. "Lady Flynn is right. We should let him come back when he is ready to return to us."

"Are You sure mother?" Conrad rested his hand on top of her hand that has clutching a handful of her dress.

"Yes."

"If that is what You wish mother," said Conrad.

"It's not what I wish." Tears fell from her beautiful jade eyes. "But it is what Wolfram needs right now. Let him be free, your majesty." She stared up at Yuuri as tears trickled down her soft pale cheeks.

"If You believe that it is what is best for Wolfram. Than I will not try to find him," said Yuuri sadly.

"But Shibuya, what about his punishment?" asked Murata. "If wolfram is captured and is returned to the demon kingdom, he will be stripped of the Bielefeld name, his rank, whipped until he can hardly stand and be forced to walk through the streets of Shin Makoku while the citizens stone him."

Yuuri paled when he heard this. "Is this true, Conrad?"

"I'm afraid so, your majesty," said the brown hair knight.

"And that's not all, he will be branded with a T on his forehead to let everyone know that he is a traitor and then he will be banished from Shin Makoku never to return," said Josak.

Upon hearing that, Cecilie burst into loud sobbing tears as she pressed her wet face into her second son's shoulder. Yuuri felt his heart stop at hearing what was in store for Wolfram if he should be captured and return to Shin Makoku. 'That truly is a fate worst than death.'

"Wolfram. I can't let that happen to him." Yuuri began biting his bottom lip. "How about we say he put in his papers to be discharged because of personal reasons and I agreed with his reasons and signed his discharge papers. That way, wolfram won't be in any trouble when he returns." He saw the frowns on everyone's face. "It will work. No one but us knows that wolfram left without permission."

"I think it’s a good idea, Shibuya," said the great sage. "But what about lord von Voltaire. Do You think he will agree to this?"

"You needn't worry about Gwendal," said Celi wiping her eyes looking around the table. "He may not act like it but he does love Wolfram very much. It's just . . . He doesn't know how to show his emotions. I'm afraid he gets that from his father."

"Then it's settled. Once we return home, I will ask Gwendal to bring all the appropriate documents to me for wolfram's discharge."

"Thank You, your majesty for showing such kindness to my little Wolfie," said Cecilie smiling at him as tears form in her eyes.

"Well since that is settled. I guess the only thing left to do is to go home," said Josak.

As they left the tavern and boarded Celi's yachet, Yuuri stared out over the bow of the ship and watched as Carolia was nothing more than a dark outline. He didn't know why but his heart began to hurt as Carolia finally disappeared in the distance. Or maybe his heart was aching because he knew he would never see his friend. 'Good bye wolfram. I hope that one day we will meet again.'

xxxxx

Twenty minutes later lady Flynn made her way down the hall inside her palace and went to the sitting room. Upon opening the door she was met by a red hair, amber eyed young man that was looking quite anxious. Sitting on the table before him was a teapot with two cups sitting on saucers.

"Well, are they gone?" he asked jumping from his seat on the couch staring at her.

"Yes, lord von Bielefeld they are gone. It seems that they took my advice and decided to let you go," said lady Flynn.

"Oh." Wolfram looked away sadly and sat back down. "Good." Lady Flynn could see the sadness and hurt in those fake amber colored eyes. “And please, just call me Wolfram.”

"What’s wrong? You don't look at all happy." She sat on the couch beside him.

Wolfram sighed taking the wig off his head and raking his fingers through his golden blonde hair. "I guess I’m a little hurt that Yuuri did not continue to search for me." He smiled sadly at her. "I know I didn't want him to find me but I guess there is still a small part of me that is still hoping Yuuri will come around. But I know that will never happen. I’m a boy and the mere thought of touching me disgusts him."

"I’m sorry lord . . ." She stopped herself when she saw him tense. "I mean Wolfram.” She smiled when she saw him relax. Then the smile dropped from her face as she continued. “ I’m sorry that things didn't turn out the way you had wanted them to."

"Thank You for your kindness." He sighed and stood up. "Well, I guess I should be on my way." He began to straighten the wig on his head.

"Where will you go?"

He shrugged his shoulders and stared out the balcony doors into the garden. "I don't know. I guess I’ll just travel around for a while until I find a place where I will be able to heal my heart and bury my love for Yuuri."

"You could stay here.”

"I thank you again for your kindness but I am afraid I will have to decline," he said turning to face her. "Although I am in disguise, I won't be able to hide from them for long if I stay here." He sat back down on the couch and stared into the cup of tea that was sitting on the table before him. "I just wish there was some place I could go where I won't be recognized." He began to rub both of his eyes. "These damn contacts. It's like having sand in my eyes." He began to take them out. He blinked several times as a tear trickled down his left cheek. "That’s much better."

"A place where you won't be recognized," lady Flynn mused to herself. "I just might have the answer you're looking for but it will be a dangerous trip."

"Oh, what is it?" asked Wolfram interested.

She got up and went to a safe that was built in the wall behind a painting of the country side. Opening the safe, she took out a thick notebook.

"What's that?"

She sat down beside Wolfram and placed the book on his lap. "This is a diary written by Julia Wincotts ancestor during the reign of Shinou. Open the book to the page that is marked."

Wolfram opened the book and began to read. His eyes widened in shock. "Can this be true?"

"Yes. About a month ago, a piece of driftwood washed ashore and on it was the name of a ship I had never heard of. It was called The Sea Quest. Well, at the time we didn’t think anything of it. We were guessing that maybe it was one of Big Cimaron’s ships and let it go at that. Three days after we found the driftwood, I was down in the vault with some of the servants. I was going to see what all I was going to keep and what to throw away when one of the maids came across this diary from Lord Willem Wincott. When I read it, I was going to give it to the royal historians to take care of but then I came across that page.”

“Are You sure this is authentic?” asked Wolfram.

“Oh it’s real all right. I had the handwriting, the paper and everything checked to see if this diary was written during the time of the last entry. According to the historians, they said the age of the paper, and the way they wrote back then proves that the diary was indeed written during the time of Shinou.”

“But why is the paper turning yellow and sticking together?”

“Well, there was a preservation spell on it but I guess over the long years it began to wear off,” said Lady Flynn. “Anyway, according to Willem after Shinou defeated the Originators and the forbidden boxes were created. There was a short period of peace between the humans and demons. Willem also wrote that the demons were quite adventurous and wanted to explore the world. So plans were made and when the day arrived, three ships left the docks at Shin Makoku. The led ship was called the Sea Quest.”

Wolfram’s eyes widened in shock as he stared up at her. “The name on the driftwood.”

“Exactly. And it also said that they were going to cross the Abyssal Sea. They sent several messages back saying that all was fine but on the tenth day of the journey a note arrived saying that they were sailing into a storm and would send messages once the storm had passed. But that was the last message they received from the voyagers. Every since then, no one has dared to try and cross the sea until now."

"What do you mean?" asked wolfram closing the book and looking at her.

"After reading the diary, several of the historians want to follow those brave explorers to see if they did cross the Abyssal Sea. I have gathered together some volunteers along with several historians that are willing to make the journey across the Sea. The diary mentioned that the passengers consisted of both demons and humans. One ship was for the humans and the other two were demons.”

"It’s been thousands of years since they left. How do you know they survived the storm?" asked wolfram. "For all you know the storm could have scuttled the ships or some strange sea creature could have rose up out of the sea and devoured them."

Lady Flynn smiled. "You are right but we've got to have faith in our ancestors. If they survived the battle with the Originators. They could survive crossing the Abyssal Sea. Besides, if they made it, we will be meeting our long lost relatives. According to the diary, the second or third sons of each of the demon aristocrats’ families were sent as well."

"So, if they survived descendants from both the von Spitz and von Bielefeld are on the other side of the world."

"Yes, as well as the Wincott, von Voltaire and Weller."

Wolfram closed the book and thought about what lady Flynn had said. If he goes on this trip, he would definitely be safe from Yuuri ever finding out about the baby. But the journey itself might be dangerous and he could be putting the life of his unborn child in danger. Could he do this? He knew he couldn't stay in any of their allied countries because he would surely be spotted and as for going to the enemy country in disguise that was definitely out of the question. And if Big Cimaron ever found out that he was here. Carolia could be in trouble. Or if worse comes to worse, they will kidnap him in order to get to Yuuri and again, his child would be in danger. Wolfram sighed. 'What choice do I have?' He turned to lady Flynn. "I will go with them. Who knows I just might get over my broken heart the farther away from Yuuri I am. When do we set sail?"

"In a month's time," said lady Flynn. "The captain wants to make sure he has plenty of supplies before he departs. And while we wait, I shall have the royal dress maker to prepare you an outfit that is fitting for my ambassador. If you will accept the position?"

“Ambassador!” Wolfram stared at her in shock.

“Yes, once you make it to the other side, you will be my liaison,” she said smiling. "Besides, who better to speak with demons than another demon."

"You’re pretty confident that we will make it across." He arched a blonde brow staring out the corner of his eyes smirking.

"I have faith that you will."

“Hmm, Ambassador Wolfram von Bielefeld, I like the way that sounds.” Wolfram smiled. "It would be my pleasure, lady Flynn to serve as a mediator between our distant cousins."

“Good.” She stood up and held out a hand. He took her hand and she pulled him to his feet. "Now, let's go prepare what you will need on this grand adventure which will be a new life for you." Then she led him out of the room.